“The House passed a bill Thursday that would block Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the country unless they pass strict background checks — setting up a collision with President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats.

The bill has unanimous support from Republicans, who were joined by 47 Democrats — even after the Obama administration made a last-minute pitch to persuade wavering House Democrats to oppose the GOP-written bill. And with 289 “yes” votes, Republicans also won a veto-proof majority for the measure.

The bipartisan support was a rebuke of President Barack Obama by House Democrats who felt that the administration failed to make a compelling case as to why they should vote against the Republican-authored bill when it was bad politics to do so.”

Carson approves of the House’s actions.

“The Paris terrorist attacks have demonstrated that terrorists will pose as refugees to enter our land,” Carson said in a statement. “We must do our utmost to thwart the terrorists’ ambitions. The security of the American people, not politics, should be our number one priority. The bipartisan vote in the House today is a very good step in the right direction.”

Full Statement by Dr. Ben Carson:

Carson Applauds the House for Passing
New Screening Measures for Syrian Refugees

Alexandria, Va. – November 19, 2015 – Today, Dr. Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and GOP presidential candidate, applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for approving stricter screening requirements for refugees from Syria seeking to settle in the United States.

“The Paris terrorist attacks have demonstrated that terrorists will pose as refugees to enter our land,” said Dr. Carson. “We must do our utmost to thwart the terrorists’ ambitions.”

“The security of the American people, not politics, should be our number one priority,” added Dr. Carson. “The bipartisan vote in the House today is a very good step in the right direction.

In September, President Barack Obama pledged that the U.S. would accept an additional 45,000 new refugees, mostly from Syria, in 2016-2017. Earlier this week, Dr. Carson sent letters to congressional leaders urging them to terminate all public funding for any ongoing federal programs that seek to resettle refugees or migrants from Syria into the United States.